Suspension shield

ABSTRACT

A suspension shield, such as a marking or a price shield or the like, embodying a substantially flat label support or carrier and attachment means for securing this shield to a package, such as a packaging net or the like of a packaged article. The invention contemplates that the attachment means comprises at least one tongue member provided at at least one edge of the label support, this tongue member being equipped with at least one barb. The end of such at least one barb forms together with an edge of the label support or with a second tongue a narrow passageway.

United States Patent 1191 1111 3,721,028 Lehner 1March 20, 1973 541SUSPENSION SHIELD 795,391 7/1905 Harper ..40/22 1,079,617 11/1913 Tennie....40/125 Inventor: Harry Lehner, Graemchen, Swnzer- 806,229 12/1905Young ..40/22 land . l Primary Examiner-Louis G. Mancene [73] Assignee.Stoba AG, Plombenfabnk, Horn, Assistant Examiner Gregory E McNemSwitzerland Attorney-Werner W. Kleeman [22] Filed: May 3, 1971 Appl.No.: 139,787

[5 7] ABSTRACT A suspension shield, such as a marking or a price shieldor the like, embodying a substantially flat label support or carrier andattachment means for securing this shield to a package, such as apackaging net or the like of a packaged article. The inventioncontemplates that the attachment means comprises at least one tonguemember provided at at least one edge of the label support, this tonguemember being equipped with at least one barb. The end of such at leastone barb forms together with an edge of the label support or with asecond tongue a narrow passageway.

13 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEDMARZO 197a INVENTOR. yon/2yLEI/NB)? 3am; w

SUSPENSION smsu) BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present inventionrelates to novel constructions of suspension shields, typically markingor price shields, of the type embodying a substantially flat labelcarrier or support and attachment means for securing the shield to apackage, typically a packaging net.

Suspension shields or tags of this general type are already well knownto the art. The label support generally possesses the shape of asubstantially rectangular placard and is dimensioned such that labelsdispensed by an automatic weighing device or balance can be appliedthereto. In particular, a suspension shield is known to the art which isintended to be secured to a material or article packaging net in whichfruit and vegetables are packaged in units and displayed in stores. Thissuspension shield is formed by a placard, at the rear face of whichthere is provided at least one strip member which is inclined at anacute angle with respect to the plane of the placard, and this stripmember is equipped with atleast one barb or hook forming an attachmentelement for securing the suspension shield to a packaging net. Theactual attachment of the shield to the packaging net is undertaken suchthat the meshing of the packaging net is placed between the rear face ofthe placard and the strip member or strip members whereby the meshingcan become engaged by the barb or barbs.

However, due to the inclined position of the strip members with respectto the plane of the associated placard, these prior 'art suspensionshields cannot be stacked absolutely flat against one another.

Furthermore, a label holder or support has become known to the art forthe suspension of banana bunches or for insertion into vegetables, forinstance cabbageor lettuce heads, which approximately possesses theconfiguration of a key for a cylindrical lock. At the location of thekey ring there is provided a surface for accommodating a label and atthe location of the shank there are formed a series of barbs or hooks.While these label holders or supports can be'certainly constructed to beabsolutely flat and therefore can be stacked in flat condition,nonetheless they cannot be attached with the necessary security to thepackaging nets of goods which are packaged therein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, it will be seen that the art isstill in need of a suspension shield, typically a marking or priceshield for goods, which is not associated with the aforementioneddrawbacks of the prior art constructions. Hence, a primary object ofthis invention is to provide constructions of suspension shields whichare not associated with the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior artconstructions and which effectively and reliably fulfill the existingneed in the art.

Another and more specific object of the present invention is theconstruction of suspension shields of the previously mentioned typewhich combine the advantages of the previously discussed knownsuspension shields and still permit of a very rapid and very simpleattachment of these shields to the packaging net or package.

Still a further significant object of the present invention relates tonovel constructions of suspension shields which are relatively easy tomanufacture at low cost, capable of mass-production techniques, andafford easy and rapid as well as secure attachment of these shields withthe package or the like to be marked.

Now, in order to implement these and still further objects of theinvention, which will become more readily apparent as the descriptionproceeds, the novel construction of suspension shield as contemplated bythe invention manifests itself by the features that the attachment meansthereof comprise at least one tongue member arranged at at least oneedge of the label support, and this tongue member is equipped with atleast one barb or book. Further, the end of at least one such barb formstogether with an edge of the label support or together with a secondtongue member a narrow passage or passageway.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The invention will be betterunderstood, and objects other than those set forth above, will becomeapparent when consideration is given to the following detaileddescription thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexeddrawing illustrating three different embodiments of inventive suspensionshields, and specifically wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a first embodiment of such suspensionshield;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a second embodiment of inventive suspensionshield; and

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the third embodiment of inventive suspensionshield.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Describing now thedrawings, in FIG. 1 there is illustrated a first embodiment of inventivesuspension shield, typically a marking or price indicating shield, whichwill be seen to comprise a substantially flat and rectangular support orcarrier 1 formed of plastic for instance. Along a side edge 2 of thecarrier or support 1 there is arranged a tongue member 3 which extendssubstantially parallel to such edge 2. Now, at the side of the tonguemember 3 confronting the edge 2 of the support 1 such is provided with anumber of hooks or barbs 4 oriented towards the base or root 3a of thistongue member 3. These barbs 4 extend into the space 5 formed betweenthe tongue member 3 and the edge 2 of the support 1. The barb 6 locatedat the inlet side of the space or gap 5 can be designed to be somewhatlarger in size than the remaining barbs or books 4. The end of thislarger size barb 6 or the ends of all of the barbs 4, 6 together withthe edge 2 of the support 1 form a narrow passage or passageway 7, whichis preferably resilient or capable of giving, for insertion of thepackage or the like for engagement by the barb or barbs.

This construction of suspension shield is exceptionally suitable forlabeling net-type packages. The actual labels, which may bear anydesired information and which for convenience in illustration have beenomitted from the drawing, are applied in any convenient fashion to theflat surface of the label support 1. This support 1 is then grasped andwith the tongue member 3 directed towards the packaging net is placedwith its free tongue end leading over the packaging net.

As a result, the tongue member 3 penetrates through the net meshing.However, once the threads of the net have moved behind the barbs 4, 6into the gap or space 5, then they hardly again can escape therefrom,the suspension shield with the label facing towards the outside beingthen practically non-detachably secured with the packaging net.

A somewhat similar construction of suspension shield has been depictedin FIG. 2. Here, this embodiment of labeling shield differs from thatconstruction discussed above in conjunction with FIG. 1 in that insteadof a single tongue member 3 there are provided two such tongue members 3which, as shown, are arranged at oppositely situated edges 2 of thelabel carrier or support 1. Apart from such difference, it will befurther recognized that in this embodiment not only are the tonguemembers 3 provided with barbs 4 at their sides confronting theassociated edges 2 of the support 1, similar to the arrangement of FIG.1, but in this case the corresponding edges 2 of the support 1 alsocarry barbs or hooks 8 which are oriented or directed towards the baseor root 3a of the associated tongue member 3, in other words directedtowards the bottom of the corresponding space or gap 5. Furthermore, itwill be recognized that in this arrangement the hooks or barbs 4 and 8,as illustrated, extend transversely with respect to one another orengage above one another. In other words, the lengthwise axis of any onegiven barb or hook extends substantially transversely with respect tothe lengthwise axis of the next adjacently arranged barb or hook, asshown. This construction of shield provides for an even more positiveconnection with the goods, especially net-type packages, than theconstruction discussed above in connection with FIG. 1. Of course, theembodiment of FIG. 1, only having one tongue 3, could also be providedin this manner at both sides of the gap 5 with hooks or barbs arrangedin the fashion of the construction of FIG. 2, wherein such hooks extendfrom both sides into the space or gap 5 and engage over one another asdiscussed above.

The suspension shield disclosed according to FIG. 2 is generally used insuch manner that only one of the tongue members 3 is connected with thegoods to be labeled, in other words for instance inserted into thepackaging net. This affords a sufficient anchoring of the labelingshield which then can lie randomly on the package or protrude somewhattherefrom. However, it is also possible to conjointly attach both tonguemembers 3 to the goods.

Finally, in FIG. 3 there is shown a further construction of inventivelabeling shield where here such will be seen to be equipped at an edge 2of the carrier or support 1 with a pair of protruding tongue members 3,each tongue member 3 possessing only a single respective stronger barbor hook 4 which confronts or faces the hook or barb 4 at the othertongue member. The tongue members 3 enclose among themselves and betweenthe barbs 4 forming a narrow passage an opening 5. Apart from beinguseful for labeling goods which are packaged in nets the suspensionshield depicted in FIG. 3 is also suitable for labeling goods which arepackaged in bags or sacks. The tongue members 3 then serve forconnecting the support 1 with the grasped together end of the sack orbag, the grasped together portions of the bag end entering the gap orspace 7 between the barbs 4, yet owing to the provision of these barbs 4can no longer depart out of the opening 5. The substantially V-shapedcut-out or recess 4a forming both tongue ends outside of the region ofthe barbs 4 facilitates the introduction and insertion of the graspedtogether portions of the bag or package. Further, the carrier or support1 of the arrangement of FIG. 3 will be seen to be equipped withstiffening or reinforcement ribs 9, and such can be similarly providedat the other embodiments of shields discussed above in conjunction withFIGS. 1 and 2.

In all of the exemplary embodiments of labeling shields disclosedherein, but in particular then when only a single barb or hook isprovided which is oriented or faced towards the root of the associatedtongue member, such can be equipped with a second smaller barb or hook,as shown by reference character 10 in FIG. 3, and which second smallerhooks 10 are located behind the tip of the associated barb in order tofurther secure parts of the package which are engaged by and behind eachsuch primary barb. These second smaller hooks 10 act in a directionopposite to the associated first or primary barb and are orientedtowards the base thereof.

Furthermore, it is here remarked that all of the discussed embodimentsof suspension shields are suitable for being individually dispensed froman automatic dispensing device. They can be stacked upon one another incompletely flat condition and removed individually from the end of astack of such shields. Care must only be taken to ensure that duringejection of the individual shields from the stack the barbs are noteffective, that is, that the tips of the barbs are located rearwardly ofthe direction of ejection.

From what has been discussed above it will be recognized that in all ofthe constructions of shields for marking goods as discussed herein theend of each provided barb is positioned to cooperate with a part of thesuspension shield in such a manner that there is formed therebetween anarrow passage. In the constructions of shields depicted in FIGS. 1 and2 the barb ends cooperate with an edge of the label support to form suchnarrow passage, while in the construction of FIG. 3 the end of at leastone barb also cooperates with a part of the label support which here isin the form of a second tongue member to form such narrow passage.

While there is shown and described present preferred embodiments of theinvention, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is notlimited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied and practicedwithin the scope of the following claims. AC- CORDINGLY,

What is claimed is:

1. A suspension shield for a packaged article, comprising asubstantially flat label support and attachment means operativelyconnected with the label support for securing the shield to a package,said attachment means embodying at least one tongue member arrangedalong at least one edge of the label support, said tongue member beingequipped with at least one barb, the end of said at least one barbforming together with a part of the shield a narrow passage, said barbextending towards the label support and lying substantially in the sameplane thereof, said narrow passage providing a path of insertion for thepackage for engagement by the barb, said barb being located inconfronting relationship with said part of the shield to minimize thedanger of contact with and possible damage to the article which ispackaged.

2. The suspension shield as defined in claim 1, wherein said part ofsaid shield together with which said end of at least one barb forms saidnarrow passage is defined by an edge of said label support.

3. The suspension shield as defined in claim 2, wherein said edge ofsaid label support defining said part of said shield which together withsaid end of said at least one barb forms said narrow passage is saidedge at which said tongue member is arranged;

4. The suspension shield as defined in claim 1, wherein said part ofsaid shield which together with said end of said at least one barb formssaid narrow passage is defined by a further tongue member.

5. The suspension shield as defined in claim 1, wherein said edge atwhich said tongue member is arranged is a side edge of said labelsupport, said tongue member extending substantially parallel to saidside edge of said support, said tongue member being provided with atleast said one b'a r b which is situated in a space formed between saidtongue member and said label support and said barb extending towards thebase of said tongue member.

6. The suspension shield as defined in claim 5, wherein such tonguemembers are provided at two oppositely situated edges of said labelsupport.

7. The suspension shield as defined in claim 5, wherein said side edgeof said label support situated opposite said tongue member is alsoprovided with at least one barb.

8. The suspension shield as defined in claim 7, wherein said barb ofsaid tongue member and said barb of said side edge of said label supportare directed in overlying relationship towards one another.

9. The suspension shield as defined in claim 1, further including aplurality of barbs, each of said barbs being substantially the samesize.

10. The suspension shield as defined in claim 1, further including aplurality of barbs arranged in at least one row, wherein the first barbof such row is larger in size than the successive barbs.

11. The suspension shield as defined in claim 1, wherein said at leastone barb is provided with a further barb member oriented oppositely tosaid at least one barb.

12. The suspension shield as defined in claim 1, further including anadditional tongue member protruding from said support, each of saidtongue members being provided with a respective inwardly directed barbbehind which barbs there is formed a space for receiving a part of thepackage.

13. A suspension shield for a packaged article, comprising asubstantially flat label support and attachment means operativelyconnected with the label support for securing the shield to a package,said attachment means embodying at least one tongue member arrangedalong at least one edge of the label support, at least one barb providedfor said shield, the end of said at least one barb forming together witha part of the shield a narrow passage, said barb extending towards thelabel support and lying substantially in the same planethereof saidnarrow passage providing a path of insertion for the package forengagement by the barb,

said barb being located in confronting relationship with said part ofthe shield to minimize the danger of contact with and possible damage tothe article which is packaged.

1. A suspension shield for a packaged article, comprising asubstantially flat label support and attachment means operativelyconnected with the label support for securing the shield to a package,said attachment means embodying at least one tongue member arrangedalong at least one edge of the label support, said tongue member beingequipped with at least one barb, the end of said at least one barbforming together with a part of the shield a narrow passage, said barbextending towards the label support and lying substantially in the sameplane thereof, said narrow passage providing a path of insertion for thepackage for engagement by the barb, said barb being located inconfronting relationship with said part of the shield to minimize thedanger of contact with and possible damage to the article which ispackaged.
 2. The suspension shield as defined in claim 1, wherein saidpart of said shield together with which said end of at least one barbforms said narrow passage is defined by an edge of said label support.3. The suspension shield as defined in claim 2, wherein said edge ofsaid label support defining said part of said shield which together withsaid end of said at least one barb forms said narrow passage is saidedge at which said tongue member is arranged.
 4. The suspension shieldas defined in claim 1, wherein said part of said shield which togetherwith said end of said at least one barb forms said narrow passage isdefined by a further tongue member.
 5. The suspension shield as definedin claim 1, wherein said edge at which said tongue member is arranged isa side edge of said label support, said tongue member extendingsubstantially parallel to said side edge of said support, said tonguemember being provided with at least said one barb which is situated in aspace formed between said tongue member and said label support and saidbarb extending towards the base of said tongue member.
 6. The suspensionshield as defined in claim 5, wherein such tongue members are providedat two oppositely situated edges of said label support.
 7. Thesuspension shield as defined in claim 5, wherein said side edge of saidlabel support situated opposite said tongue member is also provided withat least one barb.
 8. The suspension shield as defined in claim 7,wherein said barb of said tongue member and said barb of said side edgeof said label support are directed in overlying relationship towards oneanother.
 9. The suspension shield as defined in claim 1, furtherincluding a plurality of barbs, each of said barbs being substantiallythe same size.
 10. The suspension shield as defined in claim 1, furtherincluding a plurality of barbs arranged in at least one row, wherein thefirst barb of such row is larger in size than the successive barbs. 11.The suspension shield as defined in claim 1, wherein said at least onebarb is provided with a further barb member oriented oppositely to saidat least one barb.
 12. The suspension shield as defined in claim 1,further including an additional tongue member protruding from saidsupport, each of said tongue members being provided with a respectiveinwardly directed barb behind which barbs there is formed a space forreceiving a part of the package.
 13. A suspension shield for a packagedarticle, comprising a substantially flat label support and attachmentmeans operatively connected with the label support for securing theshield to a package, said attachment means embodying at least one tonguemember arranged along at least one edge of the label support, at leastone barb provided for said shield, the end of said at least one barbforming together with a part of the shield a narrow passage, said barbextending towards the label support and lying substantially in the sameplane thereof, said narrow passage providing a path of insertion for thepackage for engagement by the barb, said barb being located inconfronting relationship with said part of the shield to minimize thedanger of contact with and possible damage to the article which ispackaged.